but with the fiscal cliff just months away, and a re-elected barack obama insisting that tax increases must be part of any budget deal, key republicans are now talking about ditching the pledge. >> i'm not obligated on the pledge. >> i will violate the pledge, long story short, for the good of the country, only if democrats will do entitlement reform. >> reporter: even republicans who say they are willing to violate the pledge say they will only do so by closing loopholes, not by doing what the president wants to do, which is raising tax rates. >> so, the sides, still far apart. meanwhile, we heard about susan rice, the ambassador going up to capitol hill today, to meet with many of her critics. and it does appear that some of the critics, at least senator john mccain, are softening their position just a bit. >> reporter: just a bit. she's going to go right into the lion's den. she's meeting not just with john mccain but with lindsey graham. both said they would do anything in their power to stop her nomination. but with this meeting coming up, they have softened that a bit. but far sh